Tag: blogging

  • Blogging Basics: lounge out loud

    Today I am lounging out loud and telling it straight from reality which is a staple of blogging. I thought I would write one with you today in case you are thinking of starting a blog or hiring me to manage your blog.

    What is a blog and how does it work?

    A good blog is conversational while also be either informative (well researched) or pure opinion. It should also convey who you are and be clear about what you’re selling. I’m not selling Koda but am a writer for hire. Koda is being my muse today, as you can tell by her classical lounge pose.

    Lounging out loud

    You may not know it, but the word blog is the child of “weblog”. The first weblogs were just that: web logs. Logs meaning you could use it the way you might a diary – only hardly private.

    You can use a blog for marketing purposes or to make money. Making money from a blog often means running Ads on it or directly linking to a product you sell. Today I’m using mine to teach and basically, lounge out loud which is basically, blogging with a purpose.

    Why Blogging is Important

    Blogging has at least 3 things going for it. The first is that it can be very engaging. You’ll have content to share on social media that people can interact with and give them a reason to visit your site.

    Second, you can update a blog on a regular basis. This helps keep a website fresh for SEO, and along with it, stronger. Each new blog allows you to curate linking experiences for the reader to keep their interest.

    Shaggy dog story
    Use your blog to express your voice but not to tell a shaggy dog story

    Third, a blog can help an audience learn about you or your business. You know now, for instance, that I enjoy lounging with my puppy. I can also tell you I typically blog on my laptop but prefer to write for clients from my desktop.

    How do I start writing a blog?

    If you decide to write your own blog, set up a platform with an easy interface. I use WordPress. I’ve written for clients who use other platforms such as SquareSpace.

    Once you have the platform up and running, strategize on what kinds of posts you want to share. I’ve narrowed down my categories over time to include work stuff (writing), puppy stuff (reflections) and local stuff (interactions).

    I hope this gives you a basic idea of how to start writing your own blog. If you find it overly time consuming, I can help you write a blog that speaks to your audience. Feel free to contact me.

  • Functional Writing: Interviewing @Josepf

    Functional Writing: An Interview With @Josepf

    Functional writing is a phrase I am using to describe the intersection between content generation and purposeful presence online.

     I believe as writers, we need to have integrity in what we express; this comes across in our writing style or voice. The other component is the idea of practical and functional expression, if what we are doing is to be relevant in digital marketing.

    Functional Writing for SEO and SOCIAL
    Brainstorming: functional writing/SEO/SOCIAL with @Josepf @Emmalish @Yoginiqueen

    Interviewing Josepf Haslam

    This is an interview with @Josepf, well known for SocialSEO, strategy and his Udemy courses among other things.

    ME: I was teaching a workshop the other day, and one of the participants mentioned that he had been advised not to write for keywords. As an SEO expert, I thought I would ask you what you thought of this.

    J: It’s more accurate to say ‘search phrases’. If you’re not writing to be found then you can completely ignore key words and search phrases, but if you do want to be found for either a key word or a search phrase, you damn well better write for it.

    ME: I understand you are presenting at the Intelligent Content Conference (ICC) in March. I look forward to hearing you speak. Would you give us a snippet of what your seminar will be about?

    J: My approach is that most people have learned how to use toilet paper and clean up after themselves. I’m giving away 10 expanded pro tips on how to optimize your content for SEO and Social before you publish. Each of these tips is as easy and necessary as using toilet paper. If you’ve mastered the first part, I’m sure you can master these tips. 

    ME: What is the number one misconception about SEO out there?

    J: Unfortunately SEO has been likened to a snake oil salesman and there is a lot of truth to that stereotype. The best way to think about SEO is that you are actually writing for 2 audiences; the search engine spiders and people. You need to understand how to write for the spiders of you’re never going to be found by the people.

    ME: What do you feel makes a good blog stand out?

    J: A good blog is one that understands the 4 “S’s” of content marketing 

    1. Segmented: who is the micro-segmented audience you are writing for?
    2. Searchable: people are actually looking for the content and you know how to make the engines find it
    3. Snackable: Like a great snack, people are always reaching for it; you want your audience to consume your content
    4. Shareable: the #1 KPI for content is “was it shared”

    ME: How did the nickname Godfather of Social Media come about?

    Functional Writing : an Interview with Josepf Haslam
    “The GodFather of Social Media”

    A twitter friend of mine @optioneerJM interviewed me about the future of digital marketing and she coined the phrase in that interview 

    ME: What is your favorite social media platform and why?

    J: My favorite platforms have changed over time, and each serves a different purpose. Today my top 3 are Instagram, Linkedin and WeChat, all for different reasons.

  • Reflections on Love

    Reflections on Love

    Love: Reflections… In honor of my anniversary, I am celebrating love and great marriages. As the site responsible for more Jewish marriages than other dating sites, JDate makes a great muse for my reflections on meeting new potential partners online, the dating experience, and finding a lasting partnership.

    Why Online Dating? Why JDate?

    The face of dating has changed over the past years.   People spend way more time in front of their computers, mobile devices and tablets than ever before. The digital age has made the need to rely on dating sites even stronger.

    If you are new to the online dating process, it may feel awkward and hard to navigate. However, let me walk you through how simple it is!

    JDate has responded to these changes by updating their website to make the experience easier and more streamlined for users. They also have enhanced their mobile presence, with JDate mobile apps for IOS and Android as well as improved the experience for iPad and Tablet users. For instance, if you have AllAccess, it enables you to message and chat via Instant Messaging with anyone, even non-paying members. So with this great new design, why not get started with putting a fresh face on your dating presence!

    Your JDate Profile Looks Fantastic!

    Your profile is the key to meeting the “right” person. Someone who is in love with you for your quirks, like drinking coffee with chocolate soymilk in it. Someone who enjoys walking in nature, people watching in Central Park, or is looking for a partner who has laugh lines. This being said, be honest and thorough. If I met someone who lied on their profile, I would say, “red flag” and move on.

    JDate has so much room for you to share tidbits about yourself that make you real, like your hobbies, interests and goals. This way, someone can see your profile, and get to know you at a glance. In fact, you might reach out to several potentially interesting profiles with a simple email message that expresses that you like what you saw. Since your inbox is now organized by conversations rather than messages, you are able to see all these communications very easily. Don’t forget, you can upgrade to make your profile stand out even more. Shine and browse on!

    JDating and the Art of Matchmaking

    Ok, so you signed up, have a great profile. You are still a little tentative to actually choose someone to greet and possibly meet. That is ok. JDate’s new Daily Matches feature is a simple, curated look at your best matches each and every day. They base this on the information that you provide so, don’t be so shy, say hi. Now, if someone says hello, be polite even if you are not interested. And likewise, if someone doesn’t respond to you, move on with a sense that meeting your mate is on the horizon, or, even at one of JDate’s offline events.

    Going out on a JDate?

    Inbox encounters are fine but take things offline so you don’t waste hours typing. First meetings are a chance to see if you have good energy with someone, or enjoy being in their company. If you do, book a date, if not, return to JDate. Hopefully, that person is a profile match away!

    *disclaimer: this is a paid piece for OmMedia group and JDate

    love and possibility
    Great Quote! Applicable to love and possibility